Apple's iOS 16.4 2023 Release - Should You Upgrade?

If you're not quite ready to upgrade to a new iPhone yet, chances are that you can still take advantage of some iOS 16 features with your current device. It may not be an exact science, but most users should benefit from these changes and improvements with iOS 16.

Apple has made developing for developers easier by adding a menu in Settings that makes beta updates simple. You can do this by navigating to General > Software Update and choosing whether you wish to download betas from there.

1. Better Performance

On March 27, Apple released their iOS 16.4 2023 update for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR owners. While not a huge upgrade by Apple standards, now could be an ideal time to upgrade if your device supports this version of the OS.

One of the biggest improvements in this update is its improved performance. The Mail app, Contacts and Calendar apps are faster, too. Messages app also shows improvement while Home Screen becomes more responsive.

Other improvements in the software include improved support for resizing photos. It can now zoom in up to 5x instead of the usual 1x, and supports a new feature which dims video automatically when detected flashes of light or strobe effects.

Additionally, there are a host of security improvements, such as the "Load Remote Image" option for mail that helps prevent spam. Furthermore, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, ICQ and XMPP now support storing IM account information for contacts in AIM, Yahoo! Messenger ICQ and XMPP programs.

This is an immense benefit for iOS users with multiple IM accounts. Now, they can store multiple messages within one conversation without having to switch between them all.

The update brings a range of useful features for podcasts and CarPlay, such as an Up Next section with profile icon and playback controls; additionally, CarPlay is now more compatible with podcasts. Furthermore, Apple Wallet now supports an order tracking widget, while page-turning animation has returned in Apple Books.

Finally, the software corrects several issues affecting older devices. The Mail app now loads fewer third-party applications and Contacts and Calendar remain more stable when in landscape mode.

Furthermore, iOS 11 significantly enhances the efficiency of installing and upgrading apps from the App Store. This enables developers to build and test their applications more rapidly, leading to an enhanced end-user experience.

2. Better Security

Apple's latest iOS 16.4 2023 Release includes several security fixes to safeguard your iPhone and iPad against hackers. The updates address more than 30 exploits which could allow malicious applications to access sensitive data without you knowing about them.

It is especially essential with Apple's upcoming iOS devices, including the iPhone XS and XS Max, that you update your iOS device so it is protected against these threats.

Apple iOS 16.4 2023 Release brings with it several new features, such as new emoji, notifications for web apps and accessibility improvements. Unfortunately, these improvements still leave open several security holes which must be addressed.

Apple has already issued several Rapid Security Responses (RSRs) to address time-sensitive security flaws in their operating system without requiring a full software upgrade. You can access RSRs through Settings in Software Update and they should take only minutes to download before restarting your device.

However, if you are running a beta version of the operating system, it may be necessary to uninstall it before installing the latest official update. To do so, navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and click "Check for Update" to begin the process.

Apple has recently updated their iOS release process, altering how beta versions of their software are distributed. They're clamping down on third-party websites and profiles that enable users to install these betas without an authorized developer account.

Additionally, Software Update now introduces a new option that allows you to opt in or out of beta updates according to your preferences. This prevents having to reinstall every time a new beta is released, saving you the hassle of having to opt in or out every time one arrives.

Another new feature in iOS 16.4 is the ability to designate a separate Apple ID for beta access. This prevents users from sharing their beta profile with others, making it easier for Apple to identify and catch potential hackers.

3. Better Apps

iOS 16.4 is one of the biggest updates ever for Apple's mobile operating system. Available since September with four subsequent upgrades to come, it boasts numerous improvements across a variety of apps.

Though many of these changes are minor, others bring new features that make the software even better to use. While some may be obvious, it's worth taking a closer look to see what else lies hidden in iOS 16 as well.

iOS 16.4 brings major upgrades to a few essential apps, such as Maps, Apple Music and Messages.

Maps now offers the ability to share your journey with friends and family via the app, making it simpler than ever to add multiple stops on a route or ask Siri for another destination while you're out and about.

iOS 16.4 brings a host of improvements to the Messages app, such as being able to edit or delete messages after they've been sent, and an improved conversation history display.

Finally, the Messages app has been given an array of new emojis such as a shaking face to indicate "no," left and right pushing hands, animal and food items, plus web push notifications which can be triggered by websites saved to your Home screen.

This feature is especially handy if you need to send a message to someone who's offline, making it much simpler for people to reach you when they require assistance. Furthermore, the feature now shows how many unread messages there are on your contact list, making it simpler for listeners to locate the ones they need.

Apple Music subscribers now have an easier way to access their profile within the music app. Instead of tapping the hamburger button which opens a separate menu with account settings, simply tap a more prominent button that will appear atop the search bar.

4. More Features

Apple's iOS 16.4 2023 release introduces a host of new features, such as animated emojis and voice isolation for calls. Furthermore, there have been improvements made to apps like Maps and Podcasts.

There are also a number of bug fixes and security updates that users should take note of. Some are minor, while others are major. For instance, iOS 16 introduces an end-to-end encrypted sign-in method which ensures secure communication without fear of phishing attempts or data leaks.

iOS 16.4 introduces web push notifications, allowing home screen web apps to send push notifications directly onto your device similar to what Google does with its Chrome browser. However, you must still authorize these pushes in order for them to take effect.

Finally, iOS 16.4 introduces Apple Pay Later, which divides purchases into four interest-free payments spread over six weeks - similar to PayPal's buy now/pay later option.

Other improvements in iOS 16.4 include a more prominent button for accessing your profile within Apple Music and improved Crash Detection optimizations for iPhone 14, 14 Plus, and Pro Max models. Furthermore, Maps now features an interactive "Look Around" function that lets users see what Street View looks like inside the app.

Finally, the update also adds keyboards for indigenous languages such as Choctaw and Chickasaw, making it simpler for those who speak those dialects to utilize the app.

Apple's current operating system can be easily downloaded from the Settings app. All you have to do is enable automatic updates in Settings and follow the onscreen instructions that appear for setup to get everything up and running quickly.

Apple recently made it much simpler for iPhone users to try out betas with this update. The iOS Settings app now features a beta menu that allows you to quickly enrol in public beta versions of apps without downloading a profile first. Alternatively, developers can opt for less buggy and usable developer betas which are less accessible than their public counterparts.